Posted on Fri, 23 Sep 2011
Its All Sweets & Michelin Stars In Langkawi
Fancy being swept off your feet with sweetness and delight by a Belgian Mr Van Damme against a backdrop of exotic, white sand beach, swaying coconut trees and crystal clear waters? Sorry, not exactly Jean Claude nor rippling muscles I’m afraid, but no doubt, someone even better and decidedly more interesting than just a pretty face!
Michelin-starred pastry chef Roger Van Damme (are our bosoms heaving in breathless delight yet?) will be at superluxe Four Seasons Langkawi in Malaysia for four days this October as part of its inaugural visiting chef series. Known for his intense desserts, he is regarded as one of the most innovative Belgian patissiers, and holds the title Chef of the Year by Gault Millau in 2010. He won himself the Michelin star this year.
He will be holding masterclasses from 26 – 29 October at the resort’s Italian restaurant, Serai. In an intimate class of only 8 people max, he will reveal all! – lap up his secrets to perfect pastry, infusing flavours, improving texture, and heightening natural flavours. You’ll end the afternoon on a sweet note over afternoon tea, and on the final day (29 Oct) , his finale will be a gourmet 4-course dinner featuring Roger’s sweet indulgences at Serai. During this period, he will also share recipes of his favourite afternoon tea treats as he defines a new Asian-inspired dessert infused with flavours of exotic Asian spices and local fruits and flowers.
About Mr Van Damme
Born in Slius, Holland, Van Damme had always been fascinated by pastry, and always pottered off to help his great-grandfather was a baker in his village bakery. He eventually went to train at the celebrated Ter Groene Poort culinary school in Bruges, and soon after graduation, went ot work for Huize van Wely, one of the most famous dessert makers in Netherlands. These days, he runs the restaurant Lunch Lounge Het Gebaar, located in the historical botanical herb garden in the heart of Antwerp, with his wife. And this is where they churn out “desserts that surprise with exquisite flavours and scents and inspiring artistic presentations”. Influencing his dessert style are his good friends Sergio Herman and Albert Adrià, the dessert maestro of El Bulli.
With such a background you can certainly expert pastry genius, sugary surprises and see for yourself how he takes pastry to a whole new level, which earned him the Michelin star! Best of all, after you’ve indulged in dessert-filled afternoons, you can leap into the pool or the sea and work out those calories, ‘cos Langkawi’s outdoors – sea or land – is just gorgeous!
Sugary Details:
All master classes are RM$300+ per person inclusive of instruction, full recipes and an Afternoon Tea repast with Chef Roger van Damme
Dessert master classes on 26, 27 & 28 October start at 2pm sharp and finish at 5pm, followed by Afternoon Tea at the Rhu Bar
Only 8 places per class, so sign up quickly!
Gourmet four-course dinner featuring Chef Roger van Damme’s dessert decadence on 29 October is priced at RM350+ per person, exclusive of wines!
Room reservations reservations.lan@fourseasons.com or online at: www.fourseasons.com/langkawi/rates_and_reservations/
Masterclass reservations: catherine.shim@fourseasons.com or at T: 604-950-8903
